Thanks Snoopy for posting exactly what I was thinking.

10% doesn't seem like a problem to me. Maybe a seafoam or other type treatment and chances are it clears up.

 

I don't want to sound like a Sea Foam advertisement, but it's only $11 and might actually save the valve job.

Sounds sort of like a valve problem, either carboned up or gummed up lifter.

 

How about a product called engine restore , with all the problem with compression in one or all this product would help with a high Milage engine . Anyway I here great reviews if you got a valve leak or worn piston rings burning oil .. I am getting a p0304 code know with 174,000 miles on it , I cleared the code and it came back in about month and half . So I am thinking about putting it in the next oil change and see what happens .. Any thoughts ?

 

Thoughts, for additives to the oil, good luck! comes to mind, along with get a triple A membership for when the band aid falls off, or the engine stops in its tracks. I do not believe a chemical concoction in a can will repair a burnt valve or leaking head gasket.

 

Take care with oil additives and other miracle chemicals! Many of them will destroy O2 sensors and Catalytic convertors. Things to avoid are silicone, zinc and other metals.

Most chemicals can "fix" the car long enough to make it the next owners problem. Like sawdust in the gearbox, etc.

Some can actually help make symptoms go away, not repair. If metal is gone to the point there is a problem there is no chemical fix. If it's a matter of built up crud, you might get lucky.

 

We started getting random P0302 codes. The car appeared to operate normally at first even though it was throwing the code. This is how is starts.

While switching out fuel injectors, coils, etc, trying to find out the problem, it got worse and worse. We're now looking at 40 psi in cylinder 2 and are facing a valve job at 160K. We at the point where the work might cost more than the car is worth. I always wanted to do a valve job myself, here is my chance.

This appears to be a known problem with the ecotec engine. We would not have bought one if we had known that. There is actually an ecotec forum. They have a bunch of stickys devoted to misfires.

 

lots of brands of cars have burnt valve issues and head gasket issues at 150,000 miles or higher mileage, a certain Escort and Sundance and my 88 Lebaron come to my mind, but they all were in the 160,000 to 185,000 miles range, the 2.2 Ecotec usally is just a head gasket issue from my experience, and 10 years with an 03 Sunfire, and 4 years with the HHR